Container for instant or precooked rice and the like



y w 7 LYNN ETAL 3,322,293

CONTAINER FOR INSTANT OR PRECOOKED RICE AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 24, 1965 L awrence Ayn/7 Fay Marya/7 14/7 aevu 0/7 INVEN'TORSATTORNEY May 30, 1967 LYNN ETAL 3,322,293 CONTAINER FOR INSTANT ORPRECOOKED RICE AND THE LIKE Filed May 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zawmswre 1 600 /4/70 /J0fi INVENTORJ United States Patent Ofifice3,322,293 Patented May 30, 1967 CONTAINER FUR INSTANT R PRECOOKED RICEAND THE LIKE Lawrence Lynn and Roy M. Anidersmi, both of Houston, Tex.,assignors to Riviana Foods Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 24,1965, er. No. 458,021 8 Claims. (Cl. 215-56) This invention relates to acontainer. More particularly, this invention relates to a container madeof impervious material and including a means to allow the freecirculation of air into and out of the interior of the container.

In the packaging of certain products, particularly instant or precookedrice and other cereal grains, a problem arises in that such products,after they are packaged, tend to develop oxidative rancidity and theprotein in the products undergoes a hydrolytic breakdown. The resultingrancid and haylike odors and flavors in the product and headspace of theproduct container are objectionable to the consumer, and adverselyaffect the saleability of the product.

protection for extended periods of time, are aesthetically displeasing,or are not in keeping with the best or allowable practices of the Foodand Drug Administration.

It has been found that when instant or precooked rice is packaged in apervious container, its tendency to be come rancid and develop odors isgreatly reduced. However, the pervious or breatheable containers used inthe art are generally made of a permeable film or paper board, which,while they allow air to circulate to and from the containers interior,to suffer from certain disadvantages. Since these materials arepermeable and, to some extent, not rigid, they do not provide suchprotection for the product as would be afforded by an imperviouscontainer. Furthermore, these materials do not, generally speaking,readily lend themselves to the manufacture of containers which arehighly attractive to the consumer, and, particularly, to the manufactureof containers which may be considered premium or specialty items ofvalue to the consumer after the product contained therein has beenremoved.

container which is made of an 1mpervious material, to gether with meansto allow the free circulation of air between the interior of thecontainer and its exterior.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a container made ofan impervious material, together with means allowing the freecirculation of air between the interior of the container and itsexterior while the lid of the container is secured to the lower portionof the container.

It is a discovery of our invention that a container may be provided,particularly for instant or precooked rice and other cerea grains, whoselid and lower members are made of an impervious material, and whichincludes grains to be packaged in such container for extended periods oftime without developing rancidity or olT flavors.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is side elevational view, partially in section, of oneembodiment of the container of our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1,the left-hand half thereof being a view taken in an upward direction,and the right-hand half being a view taken in a downward direction;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the upperportion of a second embodiment of the container of our invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line- 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a pair of spacers and portions of thetape and upper and lower members of the embodiment of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, one embodiment of the container of ourinvention is shown in its assembled condition. The container consists ofan upwardly extending hollow lower member 1, having a closed lower end 2and an open upper end, and a lid or upper member 3. The lower and lidmembers are typically of circular cross section, and each is made of animpervious material, such as glass.

At the upper end of lower member 1 there is a circumferentiallyextending rim 4,

there is a circumferentially extending downwardly facing ridge orshoulder 5, which is adapted to rest upon rim 4 of lower member 1. Whenthe lower and upper mem lance, we prefer to utilize therefor the jar andlid components of a conventional apothecary jar, as shown in thedrawings.

In order to allow the free circulation of air between the interior andexterior of interior and exterior of the container through the resultingspaces 8 defined by the spacers, shoulder 5, and the upper edge of lowermember 1.

In order to secure upper member 3 to lower member 1, a length twomembers together. The tape 9 may be an adhesive tape, however we preferto employ a commercially well known shrinkable polyethylene tape. Thepolyethylene tape should be of such width that the upper edge thereofoverlaps the upper edge of ridge or shoulder on upper member 3. Beforeapplying, the polyethylene tape is dipped in a solution of glycerine andwater, and applied when wet. As the tape dries, it shrinks and tightensabout lower and upper members 1 and 3, holding them together.

As shown in the drawings, upper member 3 may be bell-shaped, with anupwardly extending hollow portion 11 therein. A circumferentiallyextending upwardly facing shoulder 12 extends into hollow portion 11,corresponding to the lower edge of ridge or shoulder 5. For displaypurposes, an ornament, such as artificial flower 13, may be placedwithin hollow portion 11. To support the ornament, we provide a disc 14of cardboard or plastic, which has radial, circumferentially spacedslits cut in its outer periphery (as shown in FIGURE 2), and which restsupon shoulder 12. The slits allow additional air circulation between theupper hollow portion 11 and lower member 1, while preventing the instantrice or other product 16 in the lower member from entering the portionabove the disc 14.

In one use of the container of FIGURE 1, instant or precooked rice orother cereal, grain 16 is placed within lower member 1, and upper lidmember 3, containing ornament 13 and disc 14, is placed with itsshoulder 5 resting on the spacers 6 located on rim 4 of lower member 1.A strip of perforated tape 9 is then wrapped around upper and lowermembers 1 and 3 at the juncture thereof to secure the members together.If the tape is of the adhesive variety, it is merely stuck to each ofthe members; if it is a shrinkable polyethylene tape, it is applied inthe manner described above.

With the container in its assembled condition, air may circulate throughperforations in tape 9 and the spaces 8 between lower and upper members1 and 3 to the interior of the container, and vice versa. As describedheretofore, this air circulation is important in that it prevents thedevelopment of rancidity and rancid odors in the packaged product. Wehave found that when instant rice is packaged in the container of ourinvention it will retain its freshness and flavor and not become rancidfor an extended period of time, substantially in excess of the time thepackaged precooked rice or other cereal grain would normally be retainedin the container before use. At the same time, the imperviousness of thematerial from which the upper and lower members of our container is madeprovides protection of the packaged product superior to that afforded bypackages made of breatheable film or paper board.

In FIGURE 4 of the drawings we have illustrated a second embodiment ofour invention, in which it is unnecessary that the adhesive orshrinkable polyethylene tape 9' be provided with perforations. In thisembodiment, each imperforate spacer 6' consists of a length of cardboardor plastic bent in half and placed on rim 4 of lower member 1, with thebend uppermost and the two ends of the spacer respectively positionedadjacent the interior and exterior surfaces of lower member 1.

Only one spacer 6 need be used, however we prefer, for reasons whichwill become apparent, to employ three pairs of spacers on rim 4, asshown in FIGURE 5. The three pairs of spacers are placed on rim 4 inequally spaced circumferential positions, with a gap between the twospacers of each pair.

As mentioned above the tape 9' used in this embodiment of our inventionneed not be perforated, and we prefer to employ an unperforated tape, asshown, which may be an adhesive or shrinkabe polyethylene tape asdescribed above with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1. Withthe shoulder 5 of upper member 3 resting on spacers 6', spaces 8 will bedefined by shoulder 5, spacers 6, and the upper edge 4 of lowermember 1. Tape 9' is then wrapped around the circumference of thecontainer in such a position that its upper edge overlaps the upper edgeof ridge or shoulder 5, and its lower edge overlaps the upper end oflower member 1 and the ends of the spacers 6 which are adjacent thelower members outer surface, in the manner shown.

With tape 9' wrapped around the container in this fashion, it isapparent that it will not contact the outer surface of lower member 1immediately adjacent the edges of spacers *6, because of the thicknessof the spacers. As is more perspicuously illustrated in FIGURE 5, therewill therefore be a space 17 between the edge of each spacer 6' and thepoint at which tape 9 first contacts the outer surface of lower member1, which spaces 17 are in communication with spaces 8', and thus withthe interior of the container.

When three equally spaced pairs of spacers are used, as described above,each pair of spacers is so positioned that the gap between the twospacers of each pair is such that tape 9 will not contact the outersurface of lower member 1 within the gap. Thus, besides spaces 17, arelatively large space 18 is left between each pair of spacers, tape andlower member, allowing air to circulate more freely between the interiorof the container and its exterior.

In one use of the container of FIGURE 4, instant or precooked rice orother cereal grain 1-6 is placed within lower member 1 and spacers 6 arepositioned on the rim 4. Upper member 3, containing ornament 13 and disc14, is placed on the spacers and tape 9' wrapped around the two membersto secure them together, with the lower edge of the tape overlying theends of the spacers. Air may then circulate between the interior andexterior of the container through spaces 17, 18 and 8', as describedabove.

When the product packaged within either embodiment the container throughspaces 17, 18 and 8, as described otherwise removed therefrom, thecontainer may then be utilized in a conventional manner. This isaccomplished simply by removing spacers 6 or 6 from upper rim 4 of thelower member 1, whereupon the shoulder 5 of upper or lid member 3 mayrest directly on rim 4, affording a container which is substantially airtight and may be put to a variety of uses.

While our invention has ben described with respect to a glass container,it is also applicable to containers made of other impervious materials,such as metals or impervious plastics. Generally, the choice of materialwill depend upon the particular use to which the container is to be put;usually, glass is desirable where the container is to be displayed forsale to the consumer.

Having described our invention with reference to certain particularembodiments and examples, it is understood that it is not intended to belimited thereto, but includes such modifications as may occur to thoseskilled in the art within the spirit of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A container for instant rice and the like comprising,

a hollow upwardly extending lower member closed at its lower end,

an upper lid member having a downwardly-facing shoulder adapted toengage the upper end of said lower member,

each of said members being made of an impervious material,

a plurality of spacers carried by said upper end of said lower memberand circumferentially spaced from each other thereon,

each of said spacers including a downwardly-extending portion adjacentthe exterior surface of said lower hollow member,

said shoulder of said upper member resting on said spacers,

whereby a plurality of spaces are defined by said shoulder, upper endand spacers, and

a length of tape wrapped around said upper and lower members, with theupper edge of said tape overlying and secured to a portion of said uppermember and the lower edge of said tape overlying said portions of saidspacers and secured to said lower member for a portion of the distancebetween at least two of said spacers,

whereby a plurality of spacers are defined by said spacer portions, tapeand lower member, and air may pass between the interior and exterior ofsaid container through said pluralities of spaces.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said impervious material comprisesglass.

3. A container comprising,

a hollow upwardly extending its lower end,

an upper lid member having a downwardly-facing shoulder adapted toengage the upper end of said lower member,

each of said members being made of an impervious material,

a plurality of spacers carried by said upper end of said lower memberand circumferentially spaced from each other thereon,

said shoulder of said upper member resting on said spacers,

whereby a plurality of spaces are defined by said shoulders, upper end,and spacers,

a length of tape wrapped around said upper and lower members, with theupper edge of said tape overlying and secured to a portion of said uppermember and the lower edge of said tape overlying and secured to aportion of said lower member,

said tape having a plurality of perforations therethrough, and

said tape being so positioned with respect to said upper and lowermembers that at least a portion of said perforations overlie saidspaces,

whereby air may pass between the interior and exterior of said containerthroughg said perforations and spaces.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said upper and lower members aremade of glass, and

said upper member has an upwardly extending hollow portion therein,

an ornament,

and means supporting said ornament within said hollow portion,

lower member closed at 5'. A container for instant rice and the like,comprising,

a lower hollow member closed at its lower end, an upper lid member forsaid lower member, both of said members being made of an imperviousmaterial,

engaging means on one of said members adapted to engage the other ofsaid members, at least one imperforate spacer means supported by saidother of said members and in engagement with said engaging means on saidone of said members,

securing means securing said upper lid member to said lower member whileallowing air to circulate therepast to the space provided between saidupper and lower members by said spacer means, and

said securing means comprising a length of tape havperforationstherethrough, said tape being so positioned that at least a portion ofsaid perforations are in communication with said space.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said spacer means is supported onthe upper end of said lower member and comprises a length of resilienttubing longitudinally slit edges of the slit respectively abutting theinterior and lower hollow members.

'7. The container of claim 5, wherein said spacer means includes aportion thereof adjacent the exterior surface of one of said upper andlower members, and

said securing means comprises a length of tape partially overlying saidportion of said spacer means whereby a space is defined by said tape,exterior surface and portion of said spacer means,

said last-mentioned space being in communication with said spaceprovided by said spacer means between said upper and low members.

8. The container of claim '7, including at least a pair of said spacermeans, said portions of said spacer means being sufliciently close toeach other that the portion of said tape extending between said spacermeans is maintained out of contact with said exterior surface of saidlower member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, PrimaryExaminer,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,322,293 May 30, 1967 Lawrence Lynn et 8.1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 1, line 41, for "to" read do column 4, line 37, strike out "thecontainer through spaces l7, l8 and 8, as described" and insert insteadof the container of our invention'has been consumed or column 5, line 9,for "spacers" read spaces line 30, for "shoulders" read shoulder line42, for "throughg" read through column 6, line 14, for "hav-" readhaving line 23, for "members" read member Signed and sealed this 28thday of November 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MQFLETCHERJR EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A CONTAINER FOR INSTANT RICE AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, A HOLLOWUPWARDLY EXTENDING LOWER MEMBER CLOSED AT ITS LOWER END, AN UPPER LIDMEMBER HAVING A DOWNWARDLY-FACING SHOULDER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE UPPEREND OF SAID LOWER MEMBER, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS BEING MADE OF ANIMPERVIOUS MATERIAL, A PLURALITY OF SPACERS CARRIED BY SAID UPPER END OFSAID LOWER MEMBER AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER THEREON,EACH OF SAID SPACERS INCLUDING A DOWNWARDLY-EXTENDING PORTION ADJACENTTHE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID LOWER HOLLOW MEMBER, SAID SHOULDER OF SAIDUPPER MEMBER RESTING ON SAID SPACERS, WHEREBY A PLURALITY OF SPACES AREDEFINED BY SAID SHOULDER, UPPER END AND SPACERS, AND A LENGTH OF TAPEWRAPPED AROUND SAID UPPER AND LOWER MEMBERS, WITH THE UPPER EDGE OF SAIDTYPE OVERLYING AND SECURED TO A PORTION OF SAID UPPER MEMBER AND THELOWER EDGE OF SAID TYPE OVERLYING SAID PORTIONS OF SAID SPACERS ANDSECURED TO SAID LOWER MEMBER FOR PORTION OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ATLEAST TWO OF SAID SPACERS, WHEREBY A PLURALITY OF SPACERS ARE DEFINED BYSAID SPACER PORTIONS, TAPE AND LOWER MEMBER, AND AIR